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Nanotech film to minimise food waste
A plastic film developed by the University of Southampton could help reduce food waste, as well as prevent product recalls and counterfeiting.
The polymer opal films use nanotechnology to change colour, indicating if a product has become spoiled, according to research published in the 23 July issue of American scientific journal Optics Express.
Made from photonic crystals, which are commonly used in fibre optic telecommunications, the films combine man-made and natural optical effects for greater precision.
The commercial success of photonic crystals has previously been hindered by the absence of mass production. But Germany's Deutsches Kunststoff-Institut, which collaborated in the research, has developed a process to produce long rolls of film.
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